4/30/2012 MinneCulture

1. Diversity in the local fashion industry
Produced by Will Wright
Models are the beautiful people--their images fill magazines, billboards and television screens. Beauty is subjective, but deciding which images sell is big business. In Minnesota, many of the blonde, blue-eyed models we see reflect our Scandinavian culture, but today's community is significantly more diverse. In March 2012, Italian Vogue featured a woman of color, Joan Smalls, on its cover. KFAI producer Will Wright met with local professionals to get their views on how much, or how little, women of color are represented in the fashion industry.

2. Zumba craze hits Minneapolis
Produced by Cyn Collins
Zumba is an exhilarating fitness routine that promotes joyful, healthy living. The workout feels like a dance party, combining Latin music with calorie-burning moves. Since its inception in 2001, Zumba has grown to become the world’s largest dance fitness program. More than 12 million people of various ages, shapes and sizes take classes at 110,000 locations in 125 countries. Twin Cities instructor Bernice Arias has been teaching Zumba since 2006. Today she instructs hundreds of students at four Minneapolis locations. KFAI producer Cyn Collins talks to her about the Zumba craze.

3. Minnesota's Tibetan community
Produced by Dan Greenwood
Since the 1950s, Tibetans have fled their homeland for safer havens in India, Nepal and Bhutan, as well as Europe and North America. Currently the Twin Cities has the second largest Tibetan community in the United States. KFAI's Dan Greenwood spoke to Thupten Dadak, a former Tibetan monk who has played an instrumental role in helping Tibetans resettle in Minnesota.

4. Our Turn youth media program
Produced by Michelle Alimoradi
The Twin Cities is recognized nationally for its strong youth media programs. “Our Turn” started as a public access TV show in 1993, produced by Phillips Community Television. Two decades later, PCTV partnered with Intermedia Arts to incorporate new media technologies that include online video production. KFAI producer Michelle Alimoradi visits El Colegio School in south Minneapolis to talk to students about the “Our Turn” program.

5. Mary Cutrufello live at the Amsterdam Bar
Produced by Daniel Zamzow
Singer/songwriter Mary Cutrufello was raised in Connecticut and spent years as a recording artist in Texas. She settled in the Twin Cities 10 years ago, and continues to play locally and nationally. Known as a “honky-tonk heroine,” she’s been featured on Austin City Limits and has produced a number of albums, including a major release on Mercury Records. Vocal nodes silenced her for three years, but in 2007 she returned to performing and released the album, “35.” Her most recent release is “Fireflies till they’re Gone,” which showcases both her full-throated rock wail and quiet intensity. This "Live from Minnesota" segment was produced for KFAI by Daniel Zamzow.